The Switch eShop certainly is a hubbub of activity recently, and this week is no different. There’s a heady mixture of genres, which also makes this week more varied than most.
Image & Form’s anticipated SteamWorld Quest is available now, putting a role-playing spin on the successful SteamWorld franchise. IGN dished out an 88% review score, while GameInformer, Destructoid, and Nintendo Life all opted for 8/10s.
“SteamWorld Quest plays it too safe to satisfy hardcore card-crawlers, but the campy characters, gratifying combat, and splashy synergies make it an enticing option for those looking for a traditional turn-based RPG that’s easy to wade into,†said GameInformer.
If you’re looking for something a little meatier, there’s Capcom’s Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen. It’s a game more than deserving of a full-on remake, but until then, this HD re-release will suffice.
“It is hard to believe that Dragon’s Dogma originally launched in 2012 as it feels current and fresh seven years later. The deep combat system still feels seamless and fluid, the Pawn system is still as innovative as ever – it works so well, and yet no other developer has decided to crib it for their own games,†reports Digitally Downloaded.
Mortal Kombat 11 is another of this week’s third-party titles. Sadly, we’re still waiting on reviews some three days on from release. Footage suggests developer Shiver has been in the hours to make sure it looks and plays the part. Fans are slightly miffed by the amount of IAPs Warner Bros. has sneaked in, though.
Then from Nintendo themselves, there’s the pick-up and play puzzler BOXBOY! + BOXGIRL!, which add a two-player mode into the mix. The Metacritic scores currently sits at 80%, with no review scores lower than 7/10 currently.
“BoxBoy + BoxGirl is the most BoxBoy in any package before it, with three campaigns, co-op, and all sorts of new and familiar accessories to slap on your cubular buddies. The newly introduced cooperative puzzles and some of the new concepts are where BoxBoy + BoxGirl shine the brightest, like a yellow laser striking down pain. Even with a bit too much of a samey feel now four games in, and some performance issues when the levels and abilities get complex, BoxBoy + BoxGirl is a swell puzzle outing for the Switch,†was US Gamer’s verdict. The 3DS’ loss is the Switch’s gain, it seems.
We’ve rounded up the full eShop roster below. Other bits and pieces of note include the Wonder Boy inspired Aggelos, PICROSS S3 – with its new colour mode – and the eccentric Japanese shooter Panty Party. It’s a third-person shooter with undergarments, of all things.
Aggelos – £11.99
Step through time and discover a mesmerizing new action-RPG that looks like it was plucked straight out of the 16-bit era, but plays like a modern-day marvel! Inspired by non-linear Japanese retro adventures, Aggelos hurls players into the middle of a colossal struggle for survival as beings from another dimension threaten to invade the peaceful Kingdom of Lumen. Bursting with secrets and side-quests, and boasting slick melee combat that any 2D action game would envy, Aggelos is the perfect combination of retro style and modern-day game design.
BOXBOY! + BOXGIRL! – £8.99
The fan-favourite 2D puzzle-platformer series comes to Nintendo Switch, in BOXBOY! + BOXGIRL! Think outside the box – alone or with a friend in co-op – as you help Qbby and his pals solve tricky puzzles across 270 brainteasing stages!
Deponia – £35.99
Help Rufus, the poor boy from the junkyard, to win over the girl from heaven. Only with this rich girl from his dreams he might be able to escape Deponia and, unexpectedly, to save the planet.
Mortal Kombat 11 – £54.99
Mortal Kombat is back and better than ever in the next evolution of the iconic franchise! The all new Custom Character Variations give you unprecedented control to customize the fighters and make them your own. The new graphics engine showcasing every skull-shattering moment, brings you so close to the fight you can feel it. And featuring a roster of new and returning Klassic Fighters, Mortal Kombat’s best in class cinematic story mode continues the epic saga over 25 years in the making.
Cytus α – £44.99
You play by focusing on the rhythm of the music. “Notes” (circular icons) and lines represent the music, with varied movements and interactions. With the right timing you TAP, DRAG and HOLD notes to earn the best possible score, using either the touch screen or a controller. The Notes are dynamic and reflect the energy of the music; it’s a visually captivating experience.
Beyond Enemy Lines: Covert Operations – £12.59
Think your way in, observe the enemies, sneak into their base and complete your objective. You have the total freedom to choose your path – guns blazing or silent assassin – it’s your choice! Beyond Enemy Lines: Covert Operations is an unforgiving, intense experience where skill and tactical decisions matter!
Arcade Archives PSYCHO SOLDIER – £6.29
Play as the Two Soldiers of Light, ATHENA ASAMIYA and SIE KENSOU, and use their psychic powers to defeat the otherworldly monster SIGMA!
Death Coming – £6.29
‘Death Coming’ is a non-linear puzzle game where you take on the role of the Reaper. Your sole objective? Cause deaths and harvest souls while abiding by the Free Will Clause.
Defend your Castle – £3.99
Those crafty barbarian hordes have amassed their forces once again to challenge your domain. Will you and your court rise to the challenge, or stand aside as they raze your Castle to the ground?
Dig Dog – £2.99
Dig Dog is an action roguelike platformer. Dig to discover treasure, adventure and bones! Jump, dash, stomp and dig your way through a strange world inhabited by stranger creatures.
Gym Hero – Idle Fitness Tycoon – £1.69
Being fit is healthy and fashionable! But our heroes do not have the motivation to get out for exercises, and their room is in need of some small improvements!
Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen – £24.99
The critically acclaimed action-RPG Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen combines exhilarating and deep combat with the freedom to explore a huge open world. Enter the high-fantasy setting of Gransys, a land where fabled monsters such as dragons roam.
Ding Dong XL – £0.89
Ding and Dong between the top and bottom of the screen as you attempt to avoid obstacles, collect points, and smash helpful power-ups. Try to survive as long as you can!
Homo Machina – £3.19
Homo Machina is a puzzle game inspired by the work of avant-garde scientist Fritz Kahn. Set off on a crazy journey to solve the surreal puzzles of Homo Machina and learn about the internal working of the human body, represented as a gigantic 1920s factory.
Isoland – £1.65
Isoland draws players in with its original setting and visuals. It’s an adventure game with tons of puzzle elements. Players play an investigator who arrive at a mystical island floating somewhere in the Atlantic to uncover its secrets. There lies a mysterious factor and pyramid filled with puzzles.
Isoland 2 – Ashes of Time – £2.75
Like its sequel, Isoland 2 is an adventure game where the player who loses their memory searches to solve the secrets that lie on a small, mysterious island.
Joe Jump Impossible Quest – £2.69
Joe Jump Impossible Quest is a runner game in which we are a lumberjack on his journey through the mountains. Throw axes to destroy obstacles on your way, jump over huge precipices, dodge dangers and keep running to arrive on time at a very important appointment!
Lost King’s Lullaby – £8.99
We will venture forth with Kiara in a Celtic adventure, exploring different maze-like procedurally generated worlds. We will face enemies in frenetic battles where we will have to make use of our reflexes and choose between different abilities to beat the menacing creatures. Lift the curse upon the kingdom of Bamba and find out why you are the only one not frozen in time.
Moero Chronicle Hyper – £26.99
Io is a simple young man with only one problem – he can’t talk to women! Any attempts at conversation are foiled by his own mind, except when he talks to Lilia, his best friend and a Monster Girl. However, that becomes the least of his problems when he’s tasked with going to the dangerous region of Monstopia. There, Monster Girls have begun rampaging, causing wanton pain and destruction. Have the Monster Girls simply gone mad, or is there an even greater evil afoot…? Find out in this moe-filled dungeon RPG!
Robox – £9.99
Robox is an easy to play fast action, fierce fighting game with breathtaking graphics that will make you want to play match after match.
PICROSS S3 – £8.99
In addition to the three usual game modes, Picross, Mega Picross, and Clip Picross, we’ve added an all-new Color Picross mode!
Panty Party – £13.09
Panty Party is a fast-paced battle game. Fly as a panty in the street and in-between buildings. Search for the enemy panties and kick their butt!
Rogue Bit – £3.99
A single bit of computer memory became sentient and decided to escape from digital into the real world. Explore RAM, modify bytes and hack machine code and CPU registers to set it free.
Shalnor Legends: Sacred Lands – £8.99
A young girl has traveled to the Sacred Lands. Within this realm she will face many challenges, fight dangerous monsters and solve mysterious puzzles. Many have come to this land before, all in hopes of finishing the Sacred Trial, but none has succeeded! Will she fail like the others? Or will she overcome the odds and return home!?
SteamWorld Quest: Hand of Gilgamech – £22.49
SteamWorld Quest is the roleplaying card game you’ve been waiting for! Lead a party of aspiring heroes through a beautifully hand-drawn world and intense battles using only your wits and a handful of cards. Take on whatever threat comes your way by crafting your own deck choosing from over 100 unique punch-cards!
Type:Rider – £3.19
From the rock paintings of prehistoric times to Pixel art of the 2000s, solve all the riddles by riding the most popular fonts and characters (Garamond, Helvetica, Times New Roman, Pixel, Comic Sans…) in a very captivating musical and visual environment.
Theatre Tales – £1.29
Our parents often read us bedtime stories or showed us pictures in books. We have recreated this magical world of fairy tales and fables in Theatre Tales.
The Little Acre – £9.99
The Little Acre follows the story of Aidan and his daughter, Lily, set in 1950s Ireland. After discovering clues as to the whereabouts of his missing father, Aidan begins investigating until he inadvertently finds himself transported to a strange new world. Ever the hero, Lily sets off after him, encountering her own perils along the way. Featuring full voice-acting and hand-drawn animation, The Little Acre is a memorable, lovingly crafted adventure game.
Vandals – £4.09
Vandals is an infiltration game that will transport you to the most emblematic cities of street art. In this turn-based game, the aim is to sneak around police surveillance and spray walls that grow harder and harder to access.
Zeroptian Invasion – £4.99
Taking inspiration from old score arcade shooters from the past and adding in some modern touches and stunning pixel art, Zeroptian Invasion is this decade’s answer to the arcade shooters of yesteryear.
New Switch demos
Aces of the Luftwaffe – Squadron
R-Type Dimensions EX
SUPER DRAGON BALL HEROES WORLD MISSION
Next week: FINAL FANTASY XII THE ZODIAC AGE, Table Top Racing: World Tour – Nitro Edition, Puzzle Herder, Crashbots, VA-11 Hall-A: Cyberpunk Bartender Action, Strike Suit Zero: Director’s Cut, Venture Kid, GIGA WRECKER ALT., Duck Game, The Swords of Ditto: Mormo’s Curse, HexaGravity, Gyro Boss DX, Quadle, Xtreme Club Racing, Black Paradox, and Shadows of Adam.